Virtual Event: A Framework to Reopen Our Province
Honourable Rod Phillips, Ontario Minister of Finance
May 8, 2020
The people of Ontario have made impressive progress in the fight against COVID-19. We’re all eager to reopen our province, but we’re also cautious – we don’t want a sudden surge in COVID-19 to make all our hard work go to waste. By taking a gradual, staged approach, the Ontario Government is planning to make reopening decisions in a way that keep people safe, get us to our “new normal” and position our province for a stronger economic future. Join Minister Phillips to learn more about A Framework to Reopen Our Province.
First elected in 2018, the Honourable Rod Phillips currently serves as the MPP for Ajax, and Ontario’s Minister of Finance. At the request of Premier Ford, he is chairing Ontario’s Jobs and Recovery Committee which has been tasked with planning the reopening and recovery of our province following COVID-19.
Prior to assuming his role as the Minister of Finance, he was Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks.
In this position, he developed and implemented the government’s strategy to ensure the balance of a healthy environment and a healthy economy. Before entering politics, Minister Phillips enjoyed a successful business career, notably serving as Chair of Postmedia, Canada’s largest news media company.
He also served as Chair of Afiniti Canada, a global artificial intelligence company recently recognized by The Business Insider as one of the “41 hottest AI startups worth at least $1 billion”. Minister Phillips is the former President and CEO of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, which reported a then-record profit of over $2 billion during his tenure. He was also a founder of Shepell.fgi, which grew to employ over 5,000 people worldwide. Shepell.fgi was acquired by Morneau-Sobeco in a deal which became the winner of CVCA’s 2009 “Private Equity Deal of the Year” award. The minister has also served as Chief of Staff in the offices of then-Minister of Labour, Elizabeth Witmer, and former Mayor of Toronto, Mel Lastman.
Born in Newmarket, the Minister has an Honours BA in Political Science and English from the University of Western Ontario, and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.
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